3 Stratford eateries join Red Cross chow-down

Patrons of a dozen Fairfield County restaurants chowed down for charity on Wednesday, with a percentage of the proceeds going to help the Southeastern Fairfield County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Luther Turmelle

Published 12:00 am, Thursday, September 18, 2003

The chapters first-ever Dining for Disaster Relief program could bring as much as $6,000 when all of money is finally counted. The participating restaurants  including three in Stratford  agreed to donate 10 percent of their profits for the day or $500, whichever is larger, said LynMcCarthy, a spokeswoman for the organization.

Money raised in the Dining for Disaster Relief program will be used to fund the organizations disaster relief efforts throughout the year, said McCarthy. The chapter serves Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Trumbull and Stratford.

"We were trying to think of something that would involve the community and wed heard that other chapters around the country had used it successfully following 9/11," McCarthy said. "Its a win-win for us and a win-win for the restaurants."

Last year, the chapter responded to more than 45 disasters, most of them a result of devastating house fires, according to its Web site. The chapter assisted 65 families with food, clothing, shelter and emotional support after they were displaced from their homes.

The participating restaurants include Stratford-based Panda House, Harborside and Outriggers.

An owner of the Panda House Restaurant said he saw the fund-raising effort as a good way to help others.

Two other Red Cross chapters in the state  the Valley chapter in Ansonia and the Charter Oak chapter in Hartford  are doing their own Dining for Disaster Relief programs, McCarthy said.

"Our goal for next year is to turn this into a statewide event," she said.